In June, we celebrate Seniors Month!

June is a time to celebrate the accomplishments that have been made and continue to be made by older adults in Chatham-Kent! This month also raises awareness of the health and social issues that seniors face.

Older adults are leaders, workers, mentors, and volunteers in our community that pass on valuable experience and knowledge. Despite this, older adults may experience ageism, or discrimination and prejudice because of age in public and professional settings, the healthcare system, in policies, and the workplace. Ageism can negatively impact people’s mental or physical health, social, and economic life.

Older Adults in Ontario & Chatham-Kent

Seniors are the fastest growing demographic in Ontario. Ontario has the most culturally diverse seniors’ population in all of Canada. And, 28% of seniors in Ontario aged 65-69 are working. Unfortunately, 30% of seniors are at risk of facing social isolation.[i]

Chatham-Kent has a higher number of people who are 65+ (21%) compared to Ontario (17%) and Canada 17%.[ii]

At the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, we strive to remove barriers for older adults and seniors. As with other organizations across Canada, we have seen more older adults in our workforce in recent years. In our community, we are working towards becoming more age-friendly. We offer recreation programs for older adults, and various volunteer opportunities. The Municipality also recognize older adults in the community through annual Seniors Achievement Awards.

On June 1st, 2022, the 2022 Senior of the Year was announced. Watch a recording of the Senior Achievement Awards on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s YouTube channel.

As Municipal employees, we can all support older adults in our workplace and services.

We can do this by:

• Participating in learning opportunities to understand biases you may hold about older adults and seniors
• Ensuring work and public spaces meet the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requirements. Things like accessible washrooms, adequate workspace lighting, large print materials, large screen computer monitors, and sit-stand workstations benefit many people, not just seniors.
• Managers and Supervisors can promote recruitment and retention of older adults. Learn more about how to become an Age Friendly Workplace from the Government of Canada.

This month, and all year long, we are grateful for the older adults in our organization and community – thank you for all you do!

Learn more about how to support older adults in Chatham-Kent by visiting the links below.

Resources:

Municipality of Chatham-Kent Age Friendly Committee-Provide direction and support to develop and implement Chatham-Kent’s Age Friendly Action plan. Supports a diverse, inclusive, accessible and respectful community that enables independence and healthy lifestyles at all stages of aging.

Resources for Seniors in Chatham-Kent- Supports, volunteer opportunities, health center information, and links to community activities and things one can do in Chatham-Kent.

Seniors Centers in Chatham-Kent- Offer social, recreational, and /or exercise programs.

Age-Friendly Workplaces: Promoting Older Worker Participation– A resource from the Government of Canada.

Note: We recognize that the terminology in this article may be new to some folks. If you’d like to deepen your understanding of 2SLGBTQIA+ terminology and communities, visit the CK Pride website.

June kicks off Pride Season, when we celebrate the diverse Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and additional identities (2SLGBTQIA+) communities in Chatham-Kent!

The History of Pride Celebrations

Many people are unaware that pride celebrations started as protests. In the U.S.A., in June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club, in Greenwich Village, New York. The raid led to six days of riots and protests by residents, staff, and bar patrons, many of whom were racialized trans people. The riots, now known as the ‘Stonewall riots’ were a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States, and around the World.

In Canada, similar raids happened in Toronto in the early 1970s, leading to protests for rights and protections for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada. The first pride week was held in major cities across Canada in August in 1973 to rally for equal rights. This is why some communities in Canada (including Chatham--Kent) honour Pride in August instead of June.

Of course, throughout time and history there has been celebration of, and resistance among, what we now call 2SLGBTQIA+ people and communities.

Learn about Pride flags from the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

How is Pride celebrated today?

There is a growing movement to use the term Pride season in recognition of the diverse history of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights movements, and the various times and ways Pride is celebrated. Now, Pride gatherings are used to honour the work that has been done and to raise awareness about the work still needed to achieve respect, dignity, safety, and rights for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people. It is also a time when people who may at other times feel unsafe or marginalized because of their identities have a short window of time and place to honour their authentic selves. Events include parades, rallies, workshops, concerts as well as memorials and commemorations for community members, family, and friends who lost someone due to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS.

How is Pride Honoured in Chatham-Kent?

In Chatham-Kent, Pride is celebrated in August, with a week of events organized by CK Pride.

Learn about local Pride events on the CK Pride website. Learn about CK Pride's history on the CK Pride website.

To folks celebrating - we celebrate you throughout the year, but especially during Pride Season!

What is today? PANSEXUAL AWARENESS AND VISIBILITY DAY!

Today we celebrate the pansexual community nationally and in Chatham. Today brings opportunities for everyone to reflect on how we can further educate others and ourselves on how to be better allies each and every day.

What is pansexuality?

The romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others regardless of their sex or gender.

Important things to keep in mind:

Pan means “all”, and the word pansexuality originally comes from Greek. However, pansexual people are not attracted to all other people, rather they are attracted to individuals from all gender-diverse backgrounds. Similar to how a heterosexual woman will not be attracted to all men. Pansexual individuals experience attraction to specific people, and not just others.

Pansexuality and bisexuality are different, and the two aren’t mutually exclusive. This means that an individual who identifies as bisexual means they are attracted to more than one gender. Someone who is pansexual means that they are attracted to people regardless of their gender identity.

Pansexuality is a part of what makes someone who they are but does not shape their whole identity. A pansexual person may also be trans, may live with a disability, or be a person of colour, or all three! There are many layers to one’s identity, and today is about celebrating everyone’s unique identities and the pansexual community!

If you have any questions about this post please feel free to reach out to the DEIJ Team.

On May 21st, Canada celebrates World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue Development. Canada was the first country in the world to officially celebrate this significant day when it was first received at the 33rd UNESCO General Conference. Today is about celebrating diversity of cultures in Canada and Chatham-Kent.

What is Cultural Diversity?

A common misconception is that cultural diversity refers to only race or ethnicity. Culture helps shape individual’s identities, which makes every person culturally diverse.

Our community includes people from various walks of life, backgrounds, and corners of the globe. People come from diverse religions, racial identities, ethnic groups, speak many languages, celebrate various holidays, listen to all kinds of music, eat different foods, and have various values systems.

Benefits of Cultural Diversity in our Community:

This day highlights how important it is for communities to promote and celebrate cultural diversity. Cultural diversities bring in various perspectives, knowledge, expertise, literature, art, music, food, history, religion, food and more! Other benefits include:

• Creates safer communities and promotes social inclusion and feelings of representation
• Brings open-mindedness and empathy for one another
• Multiple voices, perspectives, and personalities bouncing off one another can give rise to out-of-the-box thinking and problem-solving
• Greater appreciation and opportunity to learn new languages, arts, history, foods, and ways of thinking

Benefits of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace:

Increased creativity: a culturally diverse workforce means unique perspectives, ways of thinking, problem solving, and talents to add to the team.

• Skilled immigrants bring in new education, work experiences, and a global business understanding which keeps Canadian businesses competitive.
• Increased customer satisfaction: better services for customers, organization, and partners especially with individuals who speak various languages.
• Welcoming and inclusive workplace encourages staff members to be themselves, and to embrace their differences to come together as one team.

Supporting Cultural Diversity:

Despite there being many policies, rights, and laws that protect people from various forms of discrimination, prejudices, and violence in Canada, people living in Canada are not always treated equally due to their cultural differences. In 2020, the number of police-reported hate crimes in Canada increased by 37%.

At the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, we strive to ensure that as an organization, people feel welcomed and can work and live authentically and proudly with their unique identities.

We can support and celebrate cultural diversity by:

1. Purposefully interacting with people who have different cultures
2. Understanding the benefits of cultural diversity
3. Furthering our own learning: research and learn about customs, traditions, and practices and be respectful and open to learning
4. Engage in cultural competence training: learn about the benefits here.
5. Remember that every individual has unique experiences, refrain from asking people to be a spokesperson for that group.
6. Speak up if you hear anyone being culturally insensitive
7. If you are exposed to any form of discrimination based on cultural differences ensure you report this to your manager, supervisor, or HR representative.

Resources:

Ethnocultural Community List: get connected with the various ethnocultural community here in Chatham-Kent.

Adult Language and Learning: promote and foster personal growth and adjustment for all, including immigrants, in Chatham-Kent through education, training, and opportunities that support independence and employment.”

CK Local Immigration Partnership: “a collaborative framework towards the development of coordinated, comprehensive and strategic approaches to immigration and integration that fits the needs of Chatham-Kent's recent immigrants, employers, and service providers.”

Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women (W5): “assist immigrant and refugee women and their families to become full and participating members of Canadian Society.”

May 5^th is a day to remember and raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people in Canada. This day is also recognized by many across Turtle Island (North America) as Red Dress Day, as people hang a red dress as a visual reminder of Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people who have been murdered and as an act of solidarity for families or loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.

Inequities & Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People

Systemic inequities have long impacted and threatened Indigenous cultures, health, opportunities, languages, and traditional practices. Colonialism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism have been significant factors in the disproportionate violence against Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people.

According to a report by the RCMP, 1017 Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people were murdered between 1980 and 2012. This rate is approximately 4.5 times higher than other women in Canada.[1]. However, many believe these numbers under-represent the true magnitude of violence against Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people, as they do not include people who are still missing, who were not identified as Indigenous during the investigation, or whose death was wrongly classified as an accident. Numbers alone don’t capture and tell the full stories of communities and families who have lost a loved one, and the trauma and impact that is experienced over generations. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities are all effected in diverse ways by these experiences of disproportionate violence.

About the Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People

As a result of the disproportionate violence towards Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people, Indigenous and Human Rights agencies have called for action for decades. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, supported the call for a national public inquiry into the disproportionate rate of victimization of Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began on September 1^st, 2016. The inquiry heard testimonies from over 2,380 families and survivors, Knowledge Keepers, government officials, academics, and legal experts. On June 3rd, 2019, the National Inquiry's Final Report was completed. The Report delivers 231 Calls for Justice for social and legal changes in various institutions at all levels of government, including municipalities[2]. Like many before it, the report calls attention to the need to honour Indigenous, constitutional, and human rights. And, it calls for a decolonizing approach – learning about and implementing ways of understanding and working that include Indigenous perspectives, values, philosophies, and knowledge systems.

How Can the Municipality of Chatham-Kent support Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People?

Through our work to develop the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Strategy, we are having ongoing conversations with policy makers in the organization about our role as decision-makers, and as an organization in promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice, including pathways to justice for Indigenous people and communities. But, we encourage everyone in the organization to have these conversations.

We all have a role to play in ensuring we are a safe organization, and community, for Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people.

Individual Actions We Can All Take

1. Review the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice, and think about which are relevant in your work. Page 29 of the linked document has Calls for All Canadians and page 30 has suggested resources.
   
   
2. Learn about the Indigenous people, communities and Nations in this region, including their values, languages, and systems of knowledge. We have hard copies of the linked resource – please reach out to Rebecca if you’d like one.
   
   
3. Take Indigenous Cultural Safety training. There can be big differences between Western and Indigenous knowledge systems, ways of understanding, and values. Understand how to provide culturally appropriate services. Contact nearby First Nations to ask about opportunities for learning about local First Nations. Popular online self-directed trainings are offered by San’yas and University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies (free option).
   
   
4. Take a trauma-informed approach to your work. Whether developing policies, managing others, or providing direct services, trauma-informed approaches support us to understand how the impacts of Colonization, experiences of discrimination, and violence impacts people’s lives and behaviours, create emotionally and physically safe environments, and minimize potential harms to people we interact with. The linked article provides examples.
   
   
5. Understand the concept of Intersectionality. Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people experience disproportionate violence because of the various identities they hold and the overlapping experiences of oppression and discrimination they experience. We all hold many identities that come with different levels of power, influence, and opportunities. When developing and delivering policies and services, consider the needs and impacts on people who hold many different identities. Understand that diversity exists within Indigenous communities.
6. Speak up when you hear or see comments that are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or that don’t recognize the inherent worth of all people more generally

How can I Honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People?

Engaging in your own learning and un-learning is one way to honour the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people. Taking action to apply your learning is even more important.

On Thursday, May 5^th, 2022 you can attend an MMIWG Awareness Day Vigil that will take place at the Bleak House (495 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario). Everyone is welcomed, and the vigil will include prayers, smudging ceremony, hand drums, and guest speakers.

Resources:

Read

Resilient, Strong and Indigenous, Indigenous Corporate Training.

Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls: Understanding the numbers - Amnesty International Canada

Final Report | MMIWG (mmiwg-ffada.ca), and other important transcripts, publications, and submissions.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ National Action Plan, Urban Path to Reclaiming Power and Place, Regardless of Residency (mmiwg2splus-nationalactionplan.ca)

The Government of Canada: Release of 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People - Canada.ca

Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and initiatives related to MMIWGS.

The Chatham-Kent Public Library also has a number of books related to

Listen

Finding Cleo CBC Podcast. The story behind one young Cree girl who went missing in the 1970s.

Watch

Highway of Tears documentary. About the missing and murdered women along a 724 kilometer stretch of highway in norther British Columbia.

Bonnie Devine, 2021 Governor General Award-Winning Artist's exhibition La Rábida, Soul of Conquest: An Anishinaabe Encounter is being displayed at the Thames Art Gallery in Chatham-Kent. Along with Devine's exhibition, David DeLeary, originally from Walpole Island will be composing a special live choral performance on Friday, May 13th for an opening reception and artist talk.

Darla Fisher-Odjig a local artist will be presenting her latest paintings and sculptures with Beneath the Mask and Lay of the Landfills along with a series of historical landscape paintings from the permanent collection as well.

The exhibition is at no cost, and is open for all to attend!

Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11:00AM-4:00PM/ Friday, May 13th, 7:00-9:00PM

Opening reception with artists: May 13, 7:00-9:00PM

Visit www.tagartspace.com or www.chatham-kent.ca/TAG to learn more about upcoming exhibitions.

Scroll below to learn more about the importance behind Bonnie Devine's nationally renowned exhibition. Hope to see you there!

Tales of Fantasy is a new exhibition coming to the Chatham-Kent Museum! The exhibition opens on Wednesday, May 4th, and will be operating during Museum hours 11:00AM-4:00PM.

The new exhibition will allow you to "immerse yourself in a fantastical universe, through Quebecois, Indigenous, and Canadian folktales." Tales of Fantasy speaks to the importance of oral traditions such as story-telling and folktales and Tegosis, the guide, will bring you through stories of life's big mysteries and natural phenomena's!

Visit Chatham-Kent | CK Museum to learn more about the upcoming exhibitions!

Scroll below to find out more about Tales of Fantasy!

Since 1970, April 22^nd has been recognized as Earth Day, a day to learn about and show support for environmental conservation.

But what could Earth Day possibly have to do with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice?

Not everyone has access to healthy environments

Where people live, their physical environment, has a significant impact on their health and wellbeing. Everyone deserves access to a healthy environment – clean air, water, food, and communities. But research shows that some communities are more likely to experience, and be impacted by, unhealthy physical environments. In other words, people’s access to healthy environments is not equitable (not fair or inequitable):

• People in lower income neighbourhoods and with higher concentrations of racialized people often have less access to green spaces, and are more likely to experience poor air quality, pollution, and environmental hazards.
• Locally, our Municipal Climate Change Action Plan team have noted that as our climate becomes ‘hotter, wetter, and wilder’, people that experience lower incomes, pre-existing health conditions, and inadequate housing will be disproportionately impacted by changing conditions.
• Some researchers and activists use the term ‘environmental poverty’ and ‘environmental racism’ to call attention to the ways that certain communities are disproportionately impacted by poor environmental conditions.

Truth, reconciliation & relationship to Earth

Reconciliation is about acknowledging, understanding, and working to rectify harms caused to Indigenous people and communities through the ongoing processes of colonization. But reconciliation is also about healing relationships with the Earth:

• Indigenous worldviews center relationships with each other, and with other living beings. Many Indigenous languages refer to the land and water using animate language – as living beings rather than objects.
• Indigenous worldviews involve respect, caring for, living off, and learning from, the land.
• Pollution and changing climate disproportionately impact the health of people who live directly off the land, but also threaten fundamental cultural traditions and practices of Indigenous people.
• The cultural traditions and practices of Indigenous people are protected under various forms of legislation, including Treaties, human rights legislation, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

Moving towards environmental justice

Justice is about understanding and addressing the root causes of differences in opportunities for wellbeing. Environmental justice involves understanding why some communities have access to healthier environments than others and working to address the root causes of those inequities.

Municipally, a just approach means that when we are doing work related to the physical environment (i.e. waste management, transportation, parks, infrastructure, building, land use planning, zoning, climate change, etc.) we understand which communities have less access to healthy physical environments and why, and prioritize access to healthy physical environments for those communities.

For a variety of reasons, the perspectives of people from communities that experience inequities are not always well represented in mainstream engagement efforts. Doing outreach designed with and for communities that experience inequities can help us understand the unique situations, needs and priorities of these communities, support participation in decision making, and ensure that existing inequities are not made worse. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Team is a resource to support your engagement efforts.

Finally, supporting initiatives that promote healthy environments helps everyone in our community, but especially communities more likely to experience the impacts of unhealthy environments.

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

What connections do you see between Earth Day, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice?

How are you engaging communities in innovative ways?

How are you supporting the environmental health of our community?

Learn More:

Fact Sheets: Climate Change and Public Health

Book: There’s Something in the Water (also available as a Netflix documentary)

Article: Climate Action, Reconciliation, and Indigenous Justice (Municipal World)

Guide: A Road to Understanding Indigenous Culture (local resource)

Group: ReLeaf Chatham-Kent

Please click here to find more information for a half-day online learning opportunity for service providers. This online conference will provide you with tools and contextual understanding you will require to effectively interact with individuals of Low German background. This conference will provide a look into Low German Mennonite cultural values, and building awareness on how to better serve the community as a result of the pandemic as well.

Click here to register:

When: April 29, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Where: Online

Cost to register: $10 ($5 for volunteers and non-profit workers)

Please reach out if you have any feedback, comments, questions, or concerns.

Thank you,

Your DEIJ Team

On March 31^st, Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is observed around the world to celebrate the lives, contributions, and activism of Trans people. The day was founded in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandell of Michigan, who wanted to acknowledge and celebrate transgender people. Although Trans and Two Spirit* people continue to face barriers and discrimination, Trans Day of Visibility is a day for us to recognize, honour, and celebrate the ways in which Trans and Two Spirit people enrich our communities.

We envision a Municipality of Chatham-Kent where everyone feels able to live their authentic selves. We can support Trans and Two Spirit people in our workforce, our families, and in our community to live authentically by:

1. Assuming there are Trans and Two Spirit people in our workplace and community.

Try not to make assumptions. We can’t assume we’ll know if someone is Trans and we don’t really know anyone’s gender identity, no matter how they present.

2. Educating ourselves about Trans and Two Spirit people and communities, including accomplishments and barriers people and communities have experienced (see the links at the bottom of this post).

Trans and Two Spirit people have existed across cultures and throughout history and there is great diversity within Trans and Two Spirit communities.

3. Using inclusive terminology and language when asking or talking about sex or gender (and considering whether we need to ask or use gendered terms at all).

For example, on surveys, intake forms, job applications and in hiring processes.

Avoid saying Mr, Mrs, Madam, Sir, etc. and find gender neutral alternatives. i.e. ‘person in the green shirt’ vs ‘woman in the front’.

4. Listening to the pronouns people use for themselves or politely identifying your pronouns, then asking for theirs.

If you accidentally use the wrong pronouns, apologize, and move on.

5. Avoiding identifying someone as Trans unless you have their permission.

6. Avoiding asking about private details of someone's life or body.

7. Supporting or providing all-gender restrooms.

To learn more, explore the resources below or connect with Rebecca or Amrit.

Today, and every day, we acknowledge, appreciate, and honour Trans and Two Spirit members of our community!

If you have feedback, comments, questions, or concerns about this post, please use the comment section below or contact Rebecca or Amrit.

Resources:

Trans Wellness Ontario

Located in Windsor. Support Transgender, Genderqueer, Two-Spirit, Non-Binary, Queer and Questioning communities and families.

Sign up for an evening virtual Trans Day of Visibility event here.

See their ‘Resources’ section for education materials, including a glossary of terms.

Facebook or Instagram.

Rainbow Health

Resources for healthcare system, but relevant for many sectors.

Trans LifeLine

A grassroots hotline run by and for Trans people offering direct support to Trans people who are in crisis.

Queer Events

Learn more about Trans community members and Trans justice milestones in Canada.

Egale Canada

Trans Day of Visibility resources, including resources on inclusive and affirming language.

CK Pride

Bring together members of Two Spirit, Trans, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer communities within Chatham-Kent.

Trans 101: The Basics

A short video on the basics of understanding Trans terminology.

Trans 101: Trans People of Colour

A short video on understanding Trans people in Indigenous and racialized communities.

What to Do If You Misgender Someone

A short video on how to respond if you misgender someone.

*Trans can be used as a term for people whose gender identity is different than what was assigned at birth. Trans can also be used as an umbrella term for anyone who does not identify as ‘cisgender’. People can use many different terms to describe their sense of gender and there are a number of other terms that carry cultural and historical roots in communities. For more information, see the links above.

Two Spirit is a term used by some Indigenous and First Nations people to describe having both a male and female spirit within them. The term reflects understandings of gender, gender roles, spirituality, and the history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Traditionally, Two Spirit people held significant cultural roles in Indigenous communities.